Michelle DaCruz
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (June 03/02) - Yellowknife naturalist and author Jamie Bastedo predicts mosquito season won't be as biting as last year.

In his opinion, last summer was, the worst mosquito season he has seen in 20 years.

Bastedo is basing his mosquito outlook on the weather during the last two weeks in May, which he says is crucial to predicting the summer season.

Besides the amount of standing water left after the winter run-off, he says temperature is a key factor.

"The quick melt we had after the last snow storm in spring could have starved the little suckers of any water," said Bastedo.

Bug shirt

Superstition also plays a part in his predictions. Bastedo admitted the worst season also coincided with a family reunion he hosted in Yellowknife.

Apparently, Bastedo's family brings the varmints out in droves, but he has no relatives scheduled to converge on the North this summer.

"If you want bad bugs have a reunion or get married."

He admitted to experiencing the infamous "hair shirt of the North country" in 2001, a phrase coined by the prospector Ted Nagle.

Without running water in his cabin, Bastedo had the urge to scamper outside without the chance to cover himself adequately.

"There were so many bugs, it felt like a werewolf experience," said Bastedo. "Hair was sprouting from places it shouldn't."

Bastedo has been predicting the severity of the mosquito season for many years and would like people to make their own predictions for this summer.

"People have heard enough predictions from me. It is time to empower people to make their own. Anyone can do it, just watch out for the amount of standing water," said Bastedo.

The best protection

And if you are worried about protecting your skin during bug season, don't be -- it's as easy as ABC.

In his 1998 book, "Reaching the North," Bastedo devotes a whole chapter to avoiding bug bites, called the ABCs of bug protection.

"A is for attitude, as in know what to do and when to do it," said Bastedo. "B is for behaviour. Don't mow the lawn at 11 p.m. without a shirt on. C is for clothing. For instance, wear tight clothes, light colours."